Championship Grand Final: Toulouse 14-18 London Broncos - Capital club back in Super League

London Broncos won away at Sheffield Eagles, Featherstone Rovers and Toulouse Olympique in the play-offs to return to Super League for the first time since 2019

London Broncos mounted a stunning fightback to win at Toulouse Olympique in the Championship Grand Final and gain promotion back to Super League.

The French side led 14-4 at half-time after tries from Mathieu Jussaume and Josh Ralph, with Dean Whare replying.

The Broncos were a side transformed after the break as Alex Walker crossed and Iliess Macani's double inched them two points ahead.

Corey Norman added the extras and the visitors held on to seal a famous win.

The Londoners will return to the top flight for the first time since suffering relegation on points difference in 2019, and now have a chance to establish themselves back in Super League.

The composition of the division for 2025 and beyond has yet to be decided, with management company IMG working with the Rugby Football League to maximise the sport's growth - so even if the Broncos were to finish bottom of the table next season, they will not be automatically relegated.

The part-timers finished fifth in the Championship table but then won away at Sheffield Eagles and table-toppers Featherstone Rovers in the play-offs to seal a Grand Final trip to Toulouse.

Their comeback in the second half stunned the home fans at the Stade Ernest-Wallon as Toulouse suffered their first home defeat in 2023 and were denied an immediate return to Super League.

"What a ride," Broncos director of rugby and performance Mike Eccles told Viaplay.

"We said we were going to do it and that we were happy to be away. It has been a surreal three weeks, to go to Sheffield, Featherstone and Toulouse.

"I am proud of everyone. We have been through a difficult couple of years but we have found our fabric as a club."

Walker and Macani inspire Broncos

Iliess Macani crossed twice in quick succession to score his 61st and 62 tries for London Broncos

The Broncos found themselves under pressure from the off as a knock-on from Rob Butler in their first set gave Toulouse the platform for centre Jussaume to scamper over, and Jake Shorrocks converted.

Zach Santo's fine line break over halfway set up Ralph to grab Toulouse's second and Shorrocks added the extras to stretch the lead to 12-0 inside 19 minutes.

The Broncos showed their attacking potential when Whare capitalised on Norman's smart kick into the in-goal area, but the scrum-half could not add the extra two points and Toulouse led by 10 at the break as Shorrocks added a penalty.

The visitors upped their line speed in defence after the restart and seized the momentum through some inspirational moments from Walker and Macani's clinical finishing.

First, full-back Walker held off Paul Marcon in the tackle to touch down nine minutes into the second half - but once again Norman sent his kick wide of the sticks.

A brilliant ball from Norman sent Macani over for his opener in the 62nd minute, and seven minutes later the visitors grabbed the lead for the first time when Walker's tip-on pass allowed Whare to gift Macani another walk-in on the left.

Norman's first conversion extended London's lead to four points and a sterling defensive effort in the dying stages, with Lambert Belmas held up over the line, ensured Toulouse would end up scoreless in the second period.

Super League action to return to London

London Broncos finished the season with seven consecutive away wins in the league and play-offs

London Broncos were Super League mainstays from 1996 until 2014, but at times endured both financial struggles and an itinerant existence involving several ground moves.

Victory in Toronto in the Million Pound Game in 2018 brought them back to the top flight, but the club dropped back down to the second tier in agonising fashion after only one season.

Now tenants of League Two football club AFC Wimbledon on Plough Lane, the Broncos will have a grander platform on which to stake their claim to become part of Super League's long-term future.

Off-field factors including geography, stadium facilities, potential fanbase and engagement will be taken into account before the RFL decides which clubs will be granted top-flight licences.

While Toulouse could have provided a local derby with Catalans Dragons and the possibility of an improved TV rights deal in France, a club based in the English capital will allow the sport to access a market outside of the game's northern heartland.

"To get from the Championship into Super League is a mega, mega step," Broncos chairman David Hughes said.

"We have got a lot of work to do this winter but it's a phenomenal feeling.

"I just hope next season we get more fans, more support seeing the big games and the big teams. To face Wigan and Leeds is everyone's ambition at this club."

Toulouse: Santo; Marcon, Jussaume, Armitage, B Laguerre; Shorrocks, Raplh; Belmas, Gahan, Hansen, Peyroux, Stefani, Marion.

Interchanges: Pelissioer, Akuaola, Bretherton, Richards.

London Broncos: Walker; Grant, Bassett, Whare, Macani; Raiwalui, Norman; Butler, Davis, Bienek, Lovell, Stock, Parata.

Interchanges: Leyland, Williams, Albert, Waine.

Referee: Jack Smith.